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CA: Gov. visits hometown for first time since spat over death penalty (Graz, Austria)
AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/24/07 | AP

Posted on 06/24/2007 7:41:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to his Austrian hometown Sunday for the first time since severing official ties with the city two years ago after a flap over the death penalty.

The actor-turned-governor was welcomed at the airport in the southern city of Graz by friends and current and former local politicians, including Alfred Gerstl, a former leader of the upper house of parliament often described as his mentor, the Austria Press Agency reported.

APA reported that Schwarzenegger would attend Gerstl's 84th birthday celebration Sunday evening. He will also visit Britain and France as part of his short European tour.

Schwarzenegger, accompanied by his daughter Katherine and one of her friends, did not take questions from journalists and disappeared into a limousine after his welcome.

The spat between Schwarzenegger and the city began in 2005, when Graz authorities stripped the governor's name from the city's soccer stadium after he refused to block the execution of a convicted California gang founder.

Schwarzenegger returned Graz's highest award, its ring of honor, which was given to him by city officials in 1999. In a letter to the city two years ago, Schwarzenegger said the ring had "lost its meaning and value to me."

Graz officials also removed all references to Schwarzenegger on the city's Web site.

Schwarzenegger was born in 1947 in the village of Thal, just outside Graz, where he began his bodybuilding career. He emigrated to the United States in 1968 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1984, but has retained his Austrian citizenship.


TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: alfredgerstl; austria; california; deathpenalty; graz; hometown; schwarzenegger; waldheim

1 posted on 06/24/2007 7:41:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
The spat between Schwarzenegger and the city began in 2005, when Graz authorities stripped the governor's name from the city's soccer stadium after he refused to block the execution of a convicted California gang founder.

One of Schwartzenaggar's finer moments.

2 posted on 06/24/2007 7:44:25 PM PDT by bannie
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To: NormsRevenge

He can go to Austria just as long as he doesn’t come back!


3 posted on 06/24/2007 7:44:29 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: NormsRevenge

MAN Austria should be proud that anybody beside Hitler come from their country this what I dont get Norm they tick off that Arnold didn’t give reprive on Tookie William that dude was murderer HELLO AUSTRIA


4 posted on 06/24/2007 7:44:34 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: NormsRevenge

I wonder if the visit was for Kurt Waldheim’s funeral.

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1850713/posts
Robert Fisk: Disgraced UN chief and Nazi war criminal Waldheim, dies aged 88


5 posted on 06/24/2007 7:47:03 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: dalereed

Maybe we could pass a bond measure and pay them to keep him, he still has his citizenship. ;-)


6 posted on 06/24/2007 7:47:55 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... For want of a few good men, a once great nation was lost.)
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To: Calpernia

It heard that he was not going to attend or make a visit re: waldheim. this was reported as a last minute thing also. he’s gonna slap blair and sarkozy on the back, I think.


7 posted on 06/24/2007 7:49:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... For want of a few good men, a once great nation was lost.)
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To: NormsRevenge

That would be the politically correct thing to say after the slack he got from inviting Waldheim to his wedding.


8 posted on 06/24/2007 7:53:03 PM PDT by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: SevenofNine
MAN Austria should be proud that anybody beside Hitler come from their country

They don't have to because they pulled the greatest trick in history: making almost everybody think Hitler was from Germany.

9 posted on 06/24/2007 8:21:46 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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